Twin Lights Ride

Ride through some of the best scenery in the Garden State! There are route options for riders of all abilities.

Up to 100 Miles
Local Farms
Local Food
Finish Festival

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Named after the famed Navesink Twin Lights up the hill from Huddy Park in Highlands, New Jersey, and showcasing the best of the Garden State, this event has been a favorite of local cyclists, New Yorkers, and visitors from around the country for over a decade. Five routes ranging from 15 to 100 miles run along the picturesque Jersey shore, over undulating hills, past quaint farms, and wind up at a finish festival where local restaurants come out to serve up their best to hungry riders—it’s the hook that keeps folks coming back year after year for just one more bite. Online registration is closed, but day-of registration is available for $90 (cash only).

The Routes

Use Strava, the official cycling app of Bike New York, to track your Twin Lights experience and share it with friends! Routes will be made available closer to the event.

15 Miles – "A Little Light"

*** NOTE: The 15 Mile route option is sold out for 2016.

Perfect for families and newer riders, this route goes through scenic Sandy Hook primarily along a car-free multi-use path.

Elevation gain: 150 ft

Start time: 10:15AM-10:45AM

30 Miles – “This Little Light of Mine”

Updated for 2016, this route now includes stunning ocean views as riders travel along the Jersey Shore through Sea Bright before rolling through Monmouth County communities south ann west of Highlands including Oceanport and Middletown.

Elevation gain: 1100 ft

Start time: 9:15AM-10:30AM

55 Miles – “White Lightning”

“This Little Light of Mine” plus an extra 25-mile southern loop around U.S. Weapons Station Earle through Farmingdale and Colts Neck.

Elevation gain: 2000 ft

Start time: 8:30AM-9:45AM

75 Miles – “Blinded By the Light”

“White Lightning” plus an extra 20-mile southeastern loop along the coastal communities of Spring Lake, Sea Girt, and Brielle. Goes near Asbury Park, but unfortunately does not include Bruce Springsteen.

Elevation gain: 2200 ft

Start time: 8:00-8:30AM

100 Miles – “All of the Lights”

“Blinded by the Light” plus an extra 25-mile loop west around the Turkey Swamp Wildlife Area near Freehold.

Elevation gain: 3000 ft

Start time: 7:30AM-8:00AM

Along the Route

Rest Areas

Rest areas along the route offer cyclists a chance to rest, fill up their water bottles, and refuel for the road ahead with complimentary snacks and refreshments.

Toilets

Toilets are located in Huddy Park and at every rest area.

Bike Repair

Bike repair stations are located in Huddy Park and at each rest area. Labor is free, but there is a charge for parts. Be sure to bring a spare tube with you.

Marshals

Volunteer marshals will be riding with you, and stationed along the route to provide roadside assistance.

SAG ( Support & Gear)

If you are running out of steam, get hurt, or fall too far behind, SAG vehicles positioned along the route will transport you and your bike back to Huddy Park.

Finish Festival

One of the best things about this ride is the food at the Finish Festival. Every year, local restaurants pile into Huddy Park to serve up the best seafood, Mexican fare, pizza, and much more to famished riders and their friends and family. Bring cash—and a big appetite.

Official Merchandise

Get kitted out in official Bike New York and Twin Lights Ride gear—we’ll have shirts, jerseys, water bottles, and much, much more. All proceeds fund our free bike education programs, so shop away!

All routes begin and end in Huddy Park in Highlands, NJ.

Ferry

Ferries take riders (and their bikes) from Pier 11 in Manhattan to Highlands, NJ, on the morning of the ride. Ferry capacity is limited and tickets are nonrefundable. Online ticket sales are available until 4PM Friday. Get your round-trip ticket now!

Ferry tickets will also be sold on-site Sunday morning for $60, cash only. Please note: Availability is not guaranteed if ferry tickets are purchased day-of.

GETTING THERE
Those riding the 100-mile and 75-mile routes must take the 6:30AM ferry in order to arrive in Highlands in time to get rolling. 55-milers can take the 6:30AM ferry or the 8:30AM ferry. 15-milers and 30-milers should take the 8:30AM ferry. (Please note: the 8:30AM ferry is SOLD OUT)

GETTING BACK
In addition to the regularly scheduled Seastreak ferries returning from Highlands to Manhattan (two stops: E. 35th St. and then Pier 11), we’ve chartered two additional ferries just for Twin Lights participants. Riders are welcome to hop on any of the following ferries, but spots are first-come, first-served.

Ferry tickets will not be shipped to you. Your name will be on a list at the morning ferry, where you’ll receive a wristband that will grant you access to the afternoon return ferry. One-way tickets are not available.

Carpool

We recommend using Google Maps to plot your route. Enter 301 Shore Drive, Highlands, NJ 07732 as your final destination. Parking is available within biking distance of Huddy Park.

PARKING

On-site attendants will direct visitors to available spots in the area.

When will I receive materials for my ride?

You should receive a confirmation email immediately after you’ve registered. Final details will be sent on the Friday before the event. For the Twin Lights Ride, bibs and bike plates will be distributed at check-in on the day of the ride. Check-in starts at 7AM in Huddy Park in Highlands, NJ (301 Shore Drive). For start times, go here.

Can i register for the ride the day of?

Yes! Day-of registration is $90 CASH ONLY, and starts at 7AM.

IS THE ROUTE CLOSED TO CARS?

No. The route is open to traffic. Riders are expected to obey all traffic laws.

CAN I SWITCH ROUTES DURING THE RIDE?

Yes. There will be certain points on each route at which you’ll have to decide whether to continue on your chosen route or switch to a different route.

what should i bring?

Helmet. (And you gotta wear it. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.)

Photo ID so you can check in and get your cue sheet.

Water bottle(s)—you’ll be able to refill them at the start and at every rest area.

Cash so you can stock up on cool Bike New York gear and get some grub at the finish festival.

Spare tube and patch kit. Bike repair along the route is free, but there is a charge for parts.

WHAT ABOUT BAD WEATHER?

All Bike New York rides are rain or shine unless otherwise noted. In the event of severe or potentially dangerous weather, we’ll be in touch regarding contingency plans.

What’s included in the registration fee?

Your registration fee covers entry to the ride, a cue sheet, access to services and amenities along the route (such as rest areas and SAG support), and a commemorative T-shirt at the finish festival. We also provide a complimentary breakfast before the ride. Local food vendors will be at the finish festival, but your post-ride meal is not covered by the cost of entry.

Where do proceeds from the ride go?

Bike New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and all proceeds from our events fund our free bike education programs. In 2015 alone, we taught bike skills to more than 17,000 kids and adults throughout New York City.

HOW DO I GET TO highlands, new jersey?

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE FERRY TICKETS?

Find ferry times here and go here to purchase tickets. Ferry tickets will not be shipped to you. Your name will be on a list at the morning ferry, where you’ll receive a wristband that will grant you access to the afternoon return ferry. One-way tickets are not available.

Can I get a refund for my ride entry or give/sell my registration to someone else?

No. Entries are non-refundable and non-transferable. This is partly due to insurance/liability reasons. If you cannot attend for any reason, email info@bike.nyc to request that your registration fee be converted into a tax-deductible charitable donation.

CAN I GET A REFUND FOR my ferry ticket?

No. Ferry ticket purchases are nonrefundable.

My child will be with me in a trailer or child seat. Does she have to be registered?

Yes. Each person participating in the event must be registered. Youth entries are available at a lower price. Children under the age of three are not allowed on Bike New York rides.

ARE THERE AGE RESTRICTIONS?

Youths ages 3 to 9 must ride with an adult on a tandem bike, in a child’s seat, on a tag-along bike, or in a bike trailer. Youths ages 10 to 17 may ride their own bikes, but must remain in close proximity to the adult with whom they were registered.

What time is the ride? What is the earliest/latest I can get there?

Check-in and breakfast begin at 7:00AM; start times depend on your route choice. (Click here for start times.) Cue sheets will be distributed ten minutes before the beginning of each start. The starts are staggered in this way to keep the ride flowing smoothly, spread out the cyclists, and minimize our impact on the roads and local communities.

How long does the ride take?

That’s up to you! You can ride at your own pace and stop at rest areas for as long as you like, provided you remain in front of the SAG vehicles trailing the back of the pack. The finish festival closes at 5PM, so be mindful of your pace and ride accordingly.

Can I get the route cue sheet ahead of time?

No. Cue sheets will be given out on the morning of the ride, ten minutes before the beginning of the start window for each route. This allows us to make any necessary last-minute adjustments to the route and ensures that people start the ride at the right time—when rest areas are open and SAG vehicles are in position.

AM I REQUIRED TO HAVE A BELL ON MY BIKE?

Is there a place to drop off my bag?

ARE THERE ANY BAG RESTRICTIONS?

No.

Is lunch included at the end?

No. However, you will be able to purchase food from local vendors at the finish festival. Bring cash and an appetite.

Is there a lost and found?

Check at the T-shirt/information tent at the finish festival to see if your lost item has been found. If not, email info@bike.nyc two days after the event to see if we found it. Lost-and-found items that remain unclaimed after two weeks will be repurposed, donated, or discarded.

Highlands has a long and interesting history. Henry Hudson noticed the Highlands as he sailed the Half Moon into the area in 1609, claiming the area for the Dutch. But he wasn’t the first European to comment on the high hills—Verrazano of Florence had been there nearly 100 years earlier.

Hudson explored the hills and traded with the local Lenape Indian natives. The Lenape called the area Navesink, which meant “a place of good fishing.” Today the river bears that name, and the local shellfishing industry supplies much of the local catch in the nearby restaurants.

The Dutch who first settled the area never really established settlements in the Highlands. When the British began exploring the area and discussing possible real estate deals with the Lenape, the Dutch threatened to build a fort to keep them out. In 1664, when the British took over the Dutch settlements, they renamed the area “Portland” after a town in England with a similar formation.

The first European to settle in the area was Richard Hartshorne, who built his home there in 1678.

Sandy Hook, across Sandy Hook Bay from Highlands, is one of the most famous navigational landmarks on the eastern seaboard. Its strategic position figures prominently in the military history of the region.

During the Revolutionary War, both British and Colonial armies were operating in New Jersey. Many loyalists in Monmouth County went to Sandy Hook when the British fleet arrived in 1776. They built fortifications and held the Hook for the remainder of the war. The Highlands had its own Revolutionary War hero, Captain Joseph Huddy, a member of the Continental Militia. He was captured by the British and hung in 1782, near the spot of the small park in Highlands which bears his name today.

The Twin Lights lighthouse in Highlands was completed in 1862. This is the first structure many immigrants to America saw as they approached New York Harbor. The Twin Lights was the first U.S. lighthouse to use the French Fresnel lens to reach some 22 miles out to sea. Around the turn of the twentieth century, Marconi used the Twin Lights for one of his early tests of wireless telegraphy.

Highlands has been a tourist destination since the first hotel was built there in 1796. In the 19th century, sailing ships and then steamships brought visitors to enjoy the sea air. One of its most well-known summer residents was Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel. She trained in the challenging currents beneath the Highlands bridge.

Highlands was incorporated as a town in 1900 and continues to host visitors seeking fresh seaside air. Now, of course, year-round residents can commute to New York City on a 45-minute ferry trip across the Harbor. In addition to the nearby beaches and National Recreation Area, residents and visitors alike enjoy the active nightlife and numerous seafood restaurants in the area.